Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-12-17

lslature, and that II VIII awaken to the
need for haste to prevent the continuance
here of the greatest of crimes against
liberty.
REFORMING THE NATURALIZATION
LAWS.
The bill of Senator Stanford to
require of foreigners a much longer
residence in the country than now pro-
vided by the naturalization laws, as a con-
dition precedent to admission to citizen
ship, is now before the country. The
proposition, which it was intimated
a year ago the Senator had in view,
will meet with broad public favor, and if
not now, will presently be adopted into
the laws of the country. Many contend
for the application of the twenty
one years rule, and the reasons
for extension of the probationary
term to the full limit required of the
native born, are strong and forclble.
These proponents insist that any rea-
son for lesser period can only be
advanced in the nature of compromise
between those who propose and those who
will oppose the new rule. They say,
and with much force, that our
children begin to learn of the coun-
try and its history with the teaching of
the home and the common schools. AS
mere infants they partake Of the patriotic
sentiment, and while yet far below years of
responsibility, they learn to take pride in
the Republic, to respect its flag and honor
its laws and traditions. As youths in our
higher schools and academies, they study
the science of our system and are daily
educated through popular reading and
association in the political issues of the
day, and the contending policies of the
great parties that administer the affairs of
the nation. Long before our young men
can exercise the sovereign right, they are
active workers in political fields, and serve
their land in arms and in civic walks.
Why the alien, who spends but very
few of the mature years Of his life with us
prior to investment with the insignia of
citizenship, should enjoy such superior
privileges to native-born youth, cannot be
successfully shown, insist the advocates
of the twenty-one years of probation.
They add that there ought to be
expected much less of the matured
alien in whom prejudices are apt to be
deep-seated, from whose mind false ideas
of government are difficult to eradicate,
and whose capacity to take up and study a
system of constitutional government is linn
tied because of fixed habits of thought
and the lack of early association with free
institutions. By our present system, we
expect mature man in the first five years
of his struggle in new land to acquire a
knowledge of our system and laws, and to
as fully enter into their spirit, as it is
given native-born in three times that
period, at least, to do. All the signs of
the times indicate that Senator Stanford 8
bill will be popular measure,
and there are strong and logical rea-
sons for believing that the amendment
will be SO well received that It's chiefest
opponents will be found in the lower order
of politicians who desire to continue in
the notorious trading and misuse of the
voting privilege, especially in great cities.
The bill does not go to the extent of re-
curing twenty-one years of residence as
condition TO the admission of aliens to cit
izenship; it simply extends the period
now equal to ten years, when the alien
came to the country after he had attained
his majority. For those coming under age,
but six years residence is required. Ger
tainly this is not radical measure. 1t
demands only that the foreign-born shall
reside in the country long enough for the
average man to acquire, by the experience
of every day life, and by study if he will
fair knowledge of the country, the theory
of the Republic, and familiarity with our
laws and the underlying principles of free
government. 1t may well be said that the
adult who, after ten years residence in the
United States, does not fairly under
stand our method of government, and be-
come attached to its principles and institu-
tons, is beyond the power of political re-
demption. Eleven years more would
scarcely improve his intellect, or make him
more devoted to the land of his adoption,
providing always, that he is fairly intel
ligent man. Indeed the additional eleven
years might root him deeper in prejudice,
and confirm him in error, so that it is
probable we shall have just as good results
from an extension to ten as to twenty-on
years. Moreover it is almost foregone
that the ten-year bill can be passed now,
while one for twenty-one years would
awaken antagonism, at this time, which
might defeat any amendment whatever, Of
fered after failure to adopt the full limit.